Being Born In A Barn Does Not Make You A Cow

"Most assuredly, I say to you,
he who believes in me has everlasting life."
John 6:47

Does this mean that every person who believes in the historical Jesus - has everlasting life? No, even the demons know who Jesus is:

"You believe that there is one God?
You do well, even the demons believe and tremble!"
James 2:19

Believing Mark Carney is the Prime Minister of Canada doesn’t make you Canadian. Believing there was a person called Mohammed, who became "the prophet" for the Muslims doesn't make one Muslim. Being born in a barn doesn't make you a cow.

There was a man named Merlin Carothers who said that one day the Lord spoke to him, "I have no grandchildren." Carothers was stumped as to what the Lord meant by that, and asked him about it. The Lord told him that no one is saved based on the fact that they grew up in a Christian home. If you think you're a Christian because your parents were, that would make you a grandchild, not a child of God, and God has no grandchildren. No, being born in a Christian home does not make you a Christian. You don’t inherit the born-again experience. Each person must come into the Kingdom of God individually and personally. You're born the first time personally, and you must be born again personally.

"Jesus answered, 'MOST ASSUREDLY I say to you,
UNLESS one is born of water and the Spirit,
he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh,
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You MUST be born again.’"
John 3:5-7

So how does it take place?

First, we have to understand our state at our physical birth. We are born into a fallen human nature, into a fallen world, to fallen parents and teachers ...and Satan is "the god of this world" (2nd Corinthians 4:4.) We are fallen by birth, so to enter into the Kingdom of God we must be born again. This new birth experience takes place when a person recognizes his sin nature, and bows before the Lord Jesus Christ, receiving him as his Savior and his Lord.

"...if you confess with your mouth “Lord Jesus,”
and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved."
Romans 10:9

It's not to confess with your mouth THAT Jesus is Lord as some translations erroneously have it - after all, the demons do that. But it is to confess with your mouth "Lord Jesus." That goes from acknowledging "that" Jesus is Lord, to confessing "Lord Jesus," when he is YOUR Lord. Confessing "that" a historical fact is true is entirely insufficient for salvation. The new birth takes place when you personally surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, when you can finally say, "Lord Jesus," meaning MY Lord. When you surrender to your Creator from the heart and ask for salvation, that is salvation.

If this is you, pray with me:

Father God, I realize that if I have believed that I'm a Christian because I grew up in a Christian environment, or because my parents were Christians, I've missed it. I realize that Jesus said "you MUST be born again" (John 3:5-7) and I have never understood that before. Your Word says each person MUST be personally born again in order to be saved, so I ask you for that new birth. I am ready to surrender myself and my entire life to you, and I ask you to be my Savior and my Lord. Please receive me and give me life, the new life that is created when one is born again. Father I pray, transform me from darkness to light, from death to life - according to your Word grant to me eternal life. I do now personally surrender all - to you.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
2nd Corinthians 5:17

More:
Born Again - What Does That Mean?